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1. DIY Spa Day
DIY spa days can be a low-cost, high-impact way to have fun at home with your daughter. If face masks are a foreign concept to you, get excited – this is going to be fun. Regardless of age, gender, or familiarity with spa treatments, face masks can be extremely relaxing, soothing, and healing.
Face masks can be pricey, but they don’t have to be. There are plenty of ways to get the same spa-like feeling without breaking the bank.
Make your own face mask. There are plenty of homemade face mask recipes if you want to go fully DIY. You may even have everything you need in your kitchen. (Common ingredients include honey, avocado, and oats.)
Buy a facial sheet mask online or at any beauty store. (My personal favorite are these: Celavie Essence Facial Masks) These are the ones that come with a cut out for your eyes, nose, and mouth. They are definitely the easiest and budget-friendly choice as they tend to be less than $1.00 each. And they’re pretty silly looking when you put them on. Laughs come with them for free.
Take your facial to the next level by slicing up a cucumber. After you each apply your face masks, place a cucumber slice on each eye and relax. Bonus points if you use the leftover cucumber to make cucumber water.
Face masks are great when you’ve got things to do but want to spend time with your daughter. Apply the masks, and then sit with each other while they dry. You can work while your daughter reads a book or does an art project.
2. Cook Together
Cooking with your daughter is a great activity for undivided attention and a whole lot of fun. You get to talk, laugh, and learn from one another while simultaneously whipping up something delicious.
If you love to cook, teach your daughter how. If cooking isn’t your forte, there are plenty of simple recipes that can be fun and tasty.
Make a sundae bar. Have her pick out her favorite toppings and you choose yours. Make it into a competition where points are given based on presentation and taste.
Make mini pizzas using bagel halves or English muffins. Trust me, they will become a new favorite.
Make cookies from scratch or buy the dough and cook together. Maybe make a few different kinds and do a taste test.
Play “Chopped.” Give her a few different items and have her incorporate them into the dish. My little sisters used to play this all of the time. I was often the judge. I thought being the judge would be the best role, but when siracha and applesauce were two of the chosen ingredients, I thought again.
Whether you decide to make a four course meal or simply bake cookies, enjoy every moment of this. It is a great opportunity to catch up with your daughter and learn about what interests her, how she is doing in school, or what she is looking forward to.
3. Take Her on a Surprise Outing
Girls tend to love surprises. Instead of asking her if she'd like to join you for a Saturday morning coffee run, tell her you'd like to take her out for a little surprise. The anticipation and wonder elevates that coffee date to the next level.
You can also make the surprise outing into a game. You can give her clues, let her guess, or make her wait until you arrive. The point here is to have fun with it and turn your father daughter dates into something even more memorable.
Once you have some one-on-one time with her, don't forget to use these small interactions to have big conversations and encourage her to speak freely with you about her dreams and aspirations. These dates may be the building blocks of your relationship. Make them count.
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